Construction workers rally for HANO to keep word on jobs

Official in hot water over promise for more jobs

UPDATED 12:00 AM CDT Apr 17, 2013

NEW ORLEANS -

Dozens of construction workers rallied Tuesday to demand the Housing Authority of New Orleans keep its word from 2012 that it will create careers and provide opportunities for low-income workers to escape poverty.

The workers stood in unity, saying HANO’s promise is broken, and they are aiming their frustration at HANO administrative receiver David Gilmore.

“He gave jobs. He gave us 50 jobs that were dirty digging jobs, and we want more. We want more. We want better, and he agreed. He agreed to the terms that there will be training for the people that’s in poverty,” said worker Alfred Marshall. “Last year he said it. Now he’s backing out.”

HANO said it’s a promise that, by law, it can’t keep.

“There’s no amount of pressure or protest, no amount of any of that stuff that’s going to make me violate the state law,” said Gilmore.

Gilmore took questions from workers who were holding him accountable to a 2012 policy that created career ladders for local workers on all housing projects of $25 million or more. For low-income workers, HANO’s new policy meant good paying jobs, but now they’re learning otherwise.

“An agency like HANO can’t require a project labor agreement or (community workforce agreements) in conjunction with a solicitation,” said Gilmore.

Gilmore said he wasn’t aware of the law when he entered into the agreement. He said all he can do by law is encourage contractors at HANO to voluntarily enter into CWA.

“I’m happy to do that. I’m certainly prepared to do it, but I can’t require of them, according to my lawyers, I can’t require that that be part of the solicitation. That’s not legal,” said Gilmore.

Workers said they plan on making their voices heard at the state Legislature in hopes of getting the law changed.